Additive coil structure for voice coil motor actuator

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments include a camera voice coil motor (VCM) actuator that includes an additive coil structure for shifting a lens along one or multiple axes. The additive coil structure may include a base portion configured to couple with a lens carrier and at least partially surround a perimeter of the lens carrier. In various examples, the additive coil structure may include folded portions that individually include a respective coil that is located proximate a respective magnet. According to various embodiments, the additive coil structure may be formed using an additive process.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/940,688, filed Mar. 29, 2018, which claims benefit of priority toU.S. Provisional Application No. 62/478,486, filed Mar. 29, 2017, whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to a camera actuator and morespecifically to a voice coil motor (VCM) camera actuator that includesan additive coil structure for shifting a lens along one or multipleaxes.

Description of the Related Art

The advent of small, mobile multipurpose devices such as smartphones andtablet or pad devices has resulted in a need for high-resolution, smallform factor cameras for integration in the devices. Some small formfactor cameras may incorporate optical image stabilization (OIS)mechanisms that may sense and react to external excitation/disturbanceby adjusting location of the optical lens on the X and/or Y axis in anattempt to compensate for unwanted motion of the lens. Some small formfactor cameras may incorporate an autofocus (AF) mechanism whereby theobject focal distance can be adjusted to focus an object plane in frontof the camera at an image plane to be captured by the image sensor. Insome such autofocus mechanisms, the optical lens is moved as a singlerigid body along the optical axis (referred to as the Z axis) of thecamera to refocus the camera.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments include a camera. The camera may include a lens, animage sensor, and a VCM actuator. The lens may define an optical axis.In various embodiments, the VCM actuator may include a lens carrier, amagnet, and a coil structure. The lens carrier may be configured to holdthe lens. For instance, the lens may be coupled to the lens carrier suchthat the lens moves together with the lens carrier. In some embodiments,the VCM actuator may be configured to shift the lens, relative to theimage sensor, based at least in part on magnetic interaction between thecoil and the magnet. The lens may include one or more optical elements,e.g., the lens may be a “lens stack” of multiple lenses.

In various examples, the coil structure may include a base portion andat least one folded portion. The base portion may be attached to thelens carrier. Furthermore, the base portion may surround a perimeter ofthe lens carrier. The folded portion may include at least one coil. Insome embodiments, the folded portion extends from the base portion in afolded arrangement such that the coil is located proximate the magnet.According to various embodiments, the coil is formed of additive layers(e.g., via an additive process).

In some cases, the VCM actuator may include a spring that connects thecoil structure to a static member of the camera. For instance, the coilstructure may be supported at least partly via the spring. In someexamples, the spring may be formed of a metal substrate from which thecoil structure is additively formed. In other examples, the coilstructure may include one or more electrodes on the base portion, andthe spring may be coupled to the base portion via the one or moreelectrodes. According to some embodiments, the spring may include one ormore electrical traces configured to route current to the at least onecoil to drive the coil.

Some embodiments include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator. The VCMactuator may include a moveable member, a plurality of magnets (e.g.,dual pole magnets), and a coil structure. The coil structure may includea base portion and folded portions. The base portion may be configuredto attach to the moveable member. Furthermore, the base portion may beconfigured to surround at least a portion of the moveable member, e.g.,along a first plane. The folded portions may individually include arespective coil of a plurality of coils. In some embodiments, each ofthe folded portions extends from the base portion in a foldedarrangement such that current flows through the respective coil along arespective plane that is orthogonal to the first plane. Furthermore, invarious embodiments, each of the plurality of coils may be formed ofadditive layers. In some examples, the VCM actuator may be configured tomove the moveable member based at least in part on magnetic interactionbetween at least one of the plurality of coils and at least one of theplurality of magnets. According to some examples, the folded portions ofthe coil structure may be additively formed together with the baseportion of the coil structure. The additive layers may include aconductive material (e.g., copper) and an insulating material (e.g.,polyimide).

Some embodiments include a method of manufacturing a voice coil motor(VCM) actuator. The method may include forming a flat coil structurethat includes a plurality of actuator coils. For instance, the flat coilstructure may be formed using an additive process. Furthermore, themethod may include folding portions of the flat coil structure to form afolded coil structure.

In some implementations, as part of forming the flat coil structure, themethod may include forming a spring. In other implementations, thespring may not be formed as part of forming the flat coil structure. Insuch cases, the spring may be coupled to the coil structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example camera module thatincludes a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator with an additive coilstructure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example additive coilstructure of a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate another example additive coil structure of avoice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 3A illustrates a bottom view of the additive coil structure in aflat state. FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view of the additive coilstructure in a folded state.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate yet another example additive coil structureof a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordance with someembodiments. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the additive coil structure may includea spring that is formed together with the additive coil structure. FIG.4A illustrates a bottom view of the additive coil structure in a flatstate. FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of the additive coilstructure in a folded state. In some embodiments, the additive coilstructure may include one or multiple features, components, and/orfunctionality of embodiments described herein with reference to FIGS.1-3B and 5-12.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an exampleadditive coil of a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an examplespring of a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example method of manufacturing a voice coilmotor (VCM) actuator that includes an additive coil structure, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another example method of manufacturing a voicecoil motor (VCM) actuator that includes an additive coil structure, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic side view of an example voice coil motor(VCM) actuator module included in a camera and configured to shift thelens and/or the image sensor along one or multiple axes, in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a portable multifunction devicewith a camera, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 11 depicts a portable multifunction device having a camera, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example computer system that may include acamera, in accordance with some embodiments.

This specification includes references to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment.” The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “inan embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.Particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inany suitable manner consistent with this disclosure.

“Comprising.” This term is open-ended. As used in the appended claims,this term does not foreclose additional structure or steps. Consider aclaim that recites: “An apparatus comprising one or more processor units. . . .” Such a claim does not foreclose the apparatus from includingadditional components (e.g., a network interface unit, graphicscircuitry, etc.).

“Configured To.” Various units, circuits, or other components may bedescribed or claimed as “configured to” perform a task or tasks. In suchcontexts, “configured to” is used to connote structure by indicatingthat the units/circuits/components include structure (e.g., circuitry)that performs those task or tasks during operation. As such, theunit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to perform the taskeven when the specified unit/circuit/component is not currentlyoperational (e.g., is not on). The units/circuits/components used withthe “configured to” language include hardware—for example, circuits,memory storing program instructions executable to implement theoperation, etc. Reciting that a unit/circuit/component is “configuredto” perform one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35U.S.C. § 112(f) for that unit/circuit/component. Additionally,“configured to” can include generic structure (e.g., generic circuitry)that is manipulated by software and/or firmware (e.g., an FPGA or ageneral-purpose processor executing software) to operate in manner thatis capable of performing the task(s) at issue. “Configure to” mayinclude adapting a manufacturing process (e.g., a semiconductorfabrication facility) to fabricate devices (e.g., integrated circuits)that are adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks.

“First,” “Second,” etc. As used herein, these terms are used as labelsfor nouns that they precede, and do not imply any type of ordering(e.g., spatial, temporal, logical, etc.). For example, a buffer circuitmay be described herein as performing write operations for “first” and“second” values. The terms “first” and “second” do not necessarily implythat the first value must be written before the second value.

“Based On.” As used herein, this term is used to describe one or morefactors that affect a determination. This term does not forecloseadditional factors that may affect a determination. That is, adetermination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least inpart, on those factors. Consider the phrase “determine A based on B.”While in this case, B is a factor that affects the determination of A,such a phrase does not foreclose the determination of A from also beingbased on C. In other instances, A may be determined based solely on B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments include camera equipment outfitted with controls,magnets, and voice coil motors to improve the effectiveness of aminiature actuation mechanism for a compact camera module. Morespecifically, in some embodiments, compact camera modules includeactuators to deliver functions such as autofocus (AF), optical imagestabilization (OIS), and/or tilt. One approach to delivering a verycompact actuator for OIS is to use a voice coil motor (VCM) arrangement.

In some embodiments, a camera may include a lens, an image sensor, and aVCM actuator. The lens may define an optical axis. The image sensor maybe configured to capture light passing through the lens. Furthermore,the image sensor may be configured to convert the captured light intoimage signals. In various embodiments, the VCM actuator may include alens carrier, a magnet, and a coil structure. The lens carrier may beconfigured to hold the lens. For instance, the lens may be coupled tothe lens carrier such that the lens moves together with the lenscarrier. The lens may include one or more optical elements, e.g., thelens may be a “lens stack” of multiple lenses.

In various examples, the coil structure may include a base portion andat least one folded portion. The base portion may be attached to thelens carrier. Furthermore, the base portion may surround a perimeter ofthe lens carrier. The folded portion may include at least one coil. Insome embodiments, the folded portion extends from the base portion in afolded arrangement such that the coil is located proximate the magnet.According to various embodiments, the coil is formed of additive layers(e.g., via an additive process).

In some embodiments, the VCM actuator may be configured to shift thelens, relative to the image sensor, based at least in part on magneticinteraction between the coil and the magnet. In some instances, the VCMactuator may be configured to move the lens along the optical axisand/or in directions orthogonal to the optical axis and/or orthogonal tothe image sensor. Additionally, or alternatively, the VCM actuator maybe configured to tilt the lens relative to the optical axis and/orrelative to the image sensor.

In some cases, the VCM actuator may include a spring that connects thecoil structure to a static member of the camera. For instance, the coilstructure may be supported at least partly via the spring. The springmay include a first portion that is coupled to the base portion of thecoil structure. Furthermore, the spring may include a plurality ofchannels that extend from the first portion to the static member.

In some examples, the spring may be formed of a metal substrate fromwhich the coil structure is additively formed. In other examples, thecoil structure may include one or more electrodes on the base portion,and the spring may be coupled to the base portion via the one or moreelectrodes. According to some embodiments, the spring may include one ormore electrical traces configured to route current to the at least onecoil to drive the coil. The spring may also include one or moreinsulator layers that electrically isolate the electrical traces. Insome examples, the electrical traces and/or the insulator layers may beadditively formed on the spring.

In some cases, the folded portion(s) of the coil structure may beadditively formed together with the base portion of the coil structure.The additive layers may include a conductive material (e.g., copper) andan insulating material (e.g., polyimide).

In some embodiments, a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator may include amoveable member, a plurality of magnets (e.g., dual pole magnets), and acoil structure. The coil structure may include a base portion and foldedportions. The base portion may be configured to attach to the moveablemember. Furthermore, the base portion may be configured to surround atleast a portion of the moveable member, e.g., along a first plane. Thefolded portions may individually include a respective coil of aplurality of coils. In some embodiments, each of the folded portionsextends from the base portion in a folded arrangement such that currentflows through the respective coil along a respective plane that isorthogonal to the first plane. Furthermore, in various embodiments, eachof the plurality of coils may be formed of additive layers. In someembodiments one or more of the plurality of coils may be formed ofadditive layers and one or more other coils of the plurality of coilsmay be formed by a different process, such as wound coils separatelyattached to the coil structure. In some embodiments, the coil structuremay include one or more coils formed of additive layers, and the VCM mayinclude one or more other coils separately attached. In some examples,the VCM actuator may be configured to move the moveable member based atleast in part on magnetic interaction between at least one of theplurality of coils and at least one of the plurality of magnets.

In some cases, the folded portions of the coil structure may include afirst folded portion, a second folded portion, a third folded portion,and a fourth folded portion. For instance, the first folded portion maybe to a first side of the moveable member and proximate a first magnet.The second folded portion may be to a second side of the moveable memberand proximate a second magnet. Furthermore, the second folded portionmay be opposite the first folded portion relative the moveable member.The third folded portion may be to a third side of the moveable memberand proximate a third magnet. The fourth folded portion may be to afourth side of the moveable member and proximate a fourth magnet.Furthermore, the fourth folded portion may be opposite the third foldedportion relative to the moveable member.

In some examples, each of the folded portions of the coil structure mayinclude a respective first straight portion, a respective secondstraight portion, and a respective intermediate portion. The firststraight portion may extend in a first direction that is parallel to theplane along which the base portion of the coil structure is configuredto surround the moveable member. The second straight portion may extendin a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The respectiveintermediate portion may extend from the first straight portion to thesecond straight portion. In some embodiments, each respective coil maybe formed on a respective second straight portion. Furthermore, thesecond straight portion may extend upwardly above the base portion insome cases.

In some embodiments, the coil structure may include a spring thatconnects the coil structure to a static member of the VCM actuator. Forinstance, the spring may connect the coil structure to the static membersuch that the coil structure is supported at least partly via thespring. The spring may include a first portion that is formed on thebase portion of the coil structure. Furthermore, the spring may includea plurality of channels that extend from the first portion to the staticmember.

According to some examples, the folded portions of the coil structuremay be additively formed together with the base portion of the coilstructure. The additive layers may include a conductive material (e.g.,copper) and an insulating material (e.g., polyimide).

According to various embodiments, the moveable member may be a lenscarrier of a camera module. The lens carrier may be configured to hold alens that defines an optical axis. In some instances, the VCM actuatormay be configured to move the lens along the optical axis. Additionally,or alternatively, the VCM actuator may be configured to tilt the lensrelative to the optical axis.

In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a voice coil motor (VCM)actuator may include forming a flat coil structure that includes aplurality of actuator coils. For instance, the flat coil structure maybe formed using an additive process. Furthermore, the method may includefolding portions of the flat coil structure to form a folded coilstructure. The folded coil structure may include a base portion and aplurality of folded portions extending from the base portion. The baseportion may be configured to surround a perimeter of a lens carrier of acamera. Each of the folded portions may include a respective one of theactuator coils.

To form the flat coil structure using an additive process, the methodmay include coating a metal substrate (e.g., a copper alloy, stainlesssteel, etc.) with an insulator layer (e.g., liquid polyimide); exposing,using a lithographic process, one or more areas of the insulator layer;sputtering the exposed areas with a seed layer (e.g., copper); andforming a conductive layer (e.g., copper) by plating the seed layer.

In some implementations, as part of forming the flat coil structure, themethod may include forming a spring. The spring may include a firstportion on the base portion of the flat coil structure, and a pluralityof channels that extend outwardly from the first portion. To form thespring, a first portion of the metal substrate may be etched away toleave a second portion of the metal substrate that includes (or forms)the spring. In other implementations, the spring may not be formed aspart of forming the flat coil structure. That is, the spring may beformed separately. In such cases, the first portion of the spring may becoupled to the base portion of the coil structure via one or moreelectrodes formed on the base portion.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks havenot been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspectsof the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed asecond contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a firstcontact, without departing from the intended scope. The first contactand the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the samecontact.

The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting. As used in the description and the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willalso be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to andencompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms“includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon”or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” dependingon the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [astated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upondetermining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [thestated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the statedcondition or event],” depending on the context.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example camera module 100that includes a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator with an additive coilstructure, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, thecamera module 100 may include one or multiple features, components,and/or functionality of embodiments described herein with reference toFIGS. 2-12.

In some embodiments, the camera module 100 may include a lens 102, animage sensor (e.g., the image sensor described below with reference toFIG. 9), and a VCM actuator. The lens 102 may define an optical axis104. In various embodiments, the VCM actuator may include a lens carrier106, one or more magnets 108 (e.g., dual pole magnets), and an additivecoil structure 110. The lens carrier 106 may be configured to hold thelens 102. For instance, the lens 102 may be coupled to the lens carrier106 such that the lens 102 moves together with the lens carrier 106.

In various examples, the additive coil structure 110 may include a baseportion 112 and at least one folded portion 114. The base portion 112may be attached to the lens carrier 106. Furthermore, the base portion112 may surround a perimeter of the lens carrier 106. Each of the foldedportions 114 may include a respective coil 116 (e.g., an autofocuscoil). In some embodiments, each of the folded portions 114 may extendfrom the base portion 112 in a folded arrangement such that therespective coil 116 is located proximate a respective magnet 108.According to various embodiments, each of the coils 116 may be formed ofadditive layers (e.g., via an additive process).

In some embodiments, the VCM actuator may be configured to shift thelens 102, relative to the image sensor, based at least in part onmagnetic interaction between the coils 116 and the magnets 108. In someinstances, the VCM actuator may be configured to move the lens 102 alongthe optical axis 104 and/or in directions orthogonal to the imagesensor. Additionally, or alternatively, the VCM actuator may beconfigured to tilt the lens 102 relative to the optical axis 104 and/orrelative to the image sensor.

In some cases, the VCM actuator may include a spring 118 that connectsthe additive coil structure 110 to a static member 120 of the VCMactuator and/or of the camera module 100. For instance, the additivecoil structure 110 may be supported at least partly via the spring 118.The connection between the spring 118 and the static 120 member may atleast partially suspend the coil structure 110 relative to the staticmember 120. In some embodiments, the static member 120 may be staticrelative to coil structure 110 for one or more degrees of freedom, butmay also be moveable with coil structure 110 in one or more otherdegrees of freedom with respect to another portion of camera module 100(e.g., the coil structure, but not the static member, is moveable alongthe optical axis for autofocus, while the static member, the coilstructure and lens carrier move together orthogonal to the optical axisfor optical image stabilization).

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example additive coilstructure 200 of a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordance withsome embodiments. In some embodiments, the additive coil structure 200may include one or multiple features, components, and/or functionalityof embodiments described herein with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3A-12.

In some embodiments, the additive coil structure 200 may include a baseportion 202 and multiple folded portions. The base portion 202 may beconfigured to be attached to attach to a moveable member of the VCMactuator. For instance, in some cases, the additive coil structure 200may be part of a VCM actuator used in a camera module (e.g., the cameramodule 100 described above with reference to FIG. 1), and the moveablemember may be a lens carrier configured to hold a lens of the cameramodule. In some embodiments, the base portion 202 may be configured tosurround at least a portion of the lens carrier. For example, the baseportion 202 may circumferentially surround a perimeter of the lenscarrier along a first plane, where the first plane may be perpendicularto the optical axis.

In some examples, the folded portions of the additive coil structure 200may include a first folded portion 204, a second folded portion 206, athird folded portion 208, and a fourth folded portion 210. Each of thefolded portions may extend from the base portion 202 in a foldedarrangement, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, each of thefolded portions includes a respective first straight portion 212, arespective second straight portion 214, and a respective intermediateportion 216. The first straight portion 212 may extend in a firstdirection that is parallel to the plane along which the base portion 202surrounds the lens carrier. The second straight portion 214 may extendin a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Theintermediate portion 216 may extend from the first straight portion 212to the second straight portion 214. In some embodiments, each respectivecoil may be formed on a respective second straight portion 214.Furthermore, the second straight portion 214 may extend upwardly abovethe base portion 202 in some cases. It is understood, however, that theadditive coil structure 200 may be formed and/or folded into anysuitable shape.

The folded portions may individually include a respective coil. Forexample, the first folded portion 204 may include a first coil 218, thesecond folded portion 206 may include a second coil 220, the thirdfolded portion 208 may include a third coil 222, and the fourth foldedportion 210 may include a fourth coil 224. In some embodiments, each ofthe folded portions may extend from the base portion 202 in a foldedarrangement such that current flows through the respective coil along arespective plane that is orthogonal to the plane along which the baseportion 202 surrounds the lens carrier. In some embodiments, each of thecoils may be individually driven. In other embodiments, one or more ofthe coils may be driven in series.

In some embodiments, each of the folded portions and their respectivecoil may be to a respective side of the lens carrier and proximate arespective magnet of the VCM actuator. For instance, the first foldedportion 204 and the first coil 218 may be opposite third folded portion208 and the third coil 222, relative to the lens carrier. Likewise, thesecond folded portion 206 and the second coil 220 may be opposite thefourth folded portion 210 and the fourth coil 224, relative to the lenscarrier.

In various embodiments, the additive coil structure 200 may be formed ofadditive layers, e.g., using an additive process as described in furtherdetail below with reference to FIGS. 3A-8. In some embodiments,electronic components 226 may also be additively formed on the additivecoil structure 200. For instance, the electronic components 226 may beformed on the base portion 202 of the additive coil structure 200 insome embodiments. The electronic components 226 may include activecomponents and/or passive components.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate another example additive coil structure 300of a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 3A illustrates a bottom view of the additive coilstructure 300 in a flat state. FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view ofthe additive coil structure 300 in a folded state. In some embodiments,the additive coil structure 300 may include one or multiple features,components, and/or functionality of embodiments described herein withreference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4A-12.

In some embodiments, the additive coil structure 300 may include one ormultiple electrodes 302. For example, the electrodes 302 may be formedon the base portion 202 and/or the folded portions of the additive coilstructure 300. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in some embodiments, arespective electrode 302 may be formed on a bottom side of each of thefolded portions, e.g., proximate a bottom side of the base portion 202of the additive coil structure 300.

In various examples, the electrodes 302 may allow for a spring (e.g.,the spring 118 described above with reference to FIG. 1) to be coupledto the additive coil structure 300. For instance, the spring may becoupled to the additive coil structure 300 via the electrodes 302. Invarious embodiments, the spring may include a first portion that isattached to the electrodes 302 and one or multiple channels extendingfrom the first portion. For example, electrodes 302 may provide alocation to solder or otherwise attach one or more springs to theadditive coil structure 300. In some examples, the spring that iscoupled to the additive coil structure 300 may be similar to the spring402 described below with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B. However, thespring that is coupled to the additive coil structure 300 may be formedseparately from the additive coil structure 300, whereas the spring 402in FIGS. 4A and 4B is formed together with the additive coil structure400. An electrode 302 may provide a conduct path for one or moreelectrical signals transmitted via the spring to a corresponding coil,e.g., to drive a current through the coil. In some embodiments, separateindividual springs may be attached to the additive coil structure 300,e.g. four discrete spring members attached to four respectiveelectrodes. In other embodiment, the springs may be formed from a commonmetallic substrate for mechanical integrity. Individual spring membersattached to respective electrodes may carry one or more signal traces toconduct respective electrical signals to the individual coils so thatelectrical signals may be provided independently to different ones ofthe coils. See, e.g., FIG. 6.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate yet another example additive coil structure400 of a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordance with someembodiments. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the additive coil structure 400 mayinclude a spring that is formed together with the additive coilstructure. FIG. 4A illustrates a bottom view of the additive coilstructure 400 in a flat state. FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view ofthe additive coil structure 400 in a folded state. In some embodiments,the additive coil structure 400 may include one or multiple features,components, and/or functionality of embodiments described herein withreference to FIGS. 1-3B and 5-12.

According to various embodiments, the additive coil structure 400 mayinclude a spring 402. In some examples, the spring 402 may be formedtogether with the additive coil structure 400, e.g., as part of a sameadditive process as discussed below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

The spring 402 may connect the additive coil structure 400 to a staticmember (e.g., of a camera) such that the additive coil structure 400 issupported at least partly via the spring 402. The spring 402 may includea first portion 404 and one or multiple channels 406. The first portion404 of the spring 402 may be formed on the base portion 202 of theadditive coil structure 400, e.g., at a bottom side of the base portion202. The channels 406 may extend outwardly from the first portion 404.For instance, the channels 406 may extend from the first portion 404 tothe static member. In various embodiments, the spring 402 may be formed,at least in part, of a metal substrate that is used in an additiveprocess to form part or all of the additive coil structure 400.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an exampleadditive coil 500 of a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordancewith some embodiments. In some embodiments, the additive coil 500 mayinclude one or multiple features, components, and/or functionality ofembodiments described herein with reference to FIGS. 1-4B and 6-12. Insome embodiments, the cross-sectional view of the additive coil 500 is across-section taken, e.g., along section line 5-5 shown in FIG. 4B. Theadditive coil 500 may include additive layers of a conductor (e.g.,copper) and an insulator (e.g., polyimide).

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an examplespring 600 of a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, in accordance with someembodiments. In some embodiments, the spring 600 may include one ormultiple features, components, and/or functionality of embodimentsdescribed herein with reference to FIGS. 1-5 and 7-12.

In some embodiments, the cross-sectional view of the spring 600 iscross-section taken, e.g., along section line 6-6 shown in FIG. 4B. Thespring 600 may be formed together with an additive coil structure, e.g.,as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B. Furthermore, asdiscussed below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the spring 600 may beformed, at least in part, of a substrate 602 (e.g., a metal substrate)that is used in an additive process to form part or all of the additivecoil structure.

According to some embodiments, the spring 600 may include one or moreelectrical traces 604 configured to route current to the coils to drivethe coils. The spring 600 may also include one or more insulator layers606 that electrically isolate the electrical traces 604. In someexamples, the electrical traces 604 and/or the insulator layers 606 maybe additively formed on the spring 600.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example method 700 of manufacturing a voicecoil motor (VCM) actuator that includes an additive coil structure, inaccordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method 700may include one or multiple features, components, and/or functionalityof embodiments described herein with reference to FIGS. 1-6 and 8-12.

At 702, the method 700 may include forming an additive coil structure.As part of forming the additive coil structure, the method 700 mayinclude, at 704, forming a flat coil structure that includes a pluralityof coils. For instance, the flat coil structure may be formed using anadditive process, e.g., as discussed in further detail below withreference to FIG. 8. Furthermore, as part of forming the additive coilstructure, the method 700 may include, at 706, folding portions of theflat coil structure to form a folded coil structure. At 708, the method700 may include coupling a spring to the additive coil structure. Inother implementations, instead of coupling a separately formed spring tothe additive coil structure, a spring may be formed together with theadditive coil structure as part of a same additive process, e.g., asdiscussed in further detail below with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another example method 800 of manufacturing avoice coil motor (VCM) actuator that includes an additive coilstructure, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, themethod 800 may include one or multiple features, components, and/orfunctionality of embodiments described herein with reference to FIGS.1-7 and 9-12.

At 802, the method 800 may include coating a metal substrate with aninsulator layer. At 804, the method 800 may include exposing, using alithographic process, one or more areas of the insulator layer. At 806,the method 800 may include sputtering the exposed areas with a seedlayer. At 808, the method 800 may include forming a conductive layer byplating the seed layer. At 810, the method 800 may include forming aspring as part of forming the additive coil structure. To form thespring, the method 800 may include, at 812, etching away a first portionof the metal substrate to leave a second portion of the metal substratethat includes (or forms) the spring. In some embodiments, the spring maybe separately formed and coupled to the additive coil structure insteadof being formed as part of forming the additive coil structure, e.g., asdiscussed above with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic side view of an example voice coil motor(VCM) actuator module 900 included in a camera and configured to shiftthe lens and/or the image sensor along one or multiple axes, inaccordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the VCM actuatormodule 900 may include one or multiple features, components, and/orfunctionality of embodiments described herein with reference to FIGS.1-8 and 10-12.

In some embodiments, the VCM actuator module 900 may include a lenscarrier 902 configured to accommodate a lens 904, magnets 906, and anadditive coil structure 908. The additive coil structure 908 includescoils (e.g., autofocus coils) located proximate the magnet 906. Thecoils of the additive coil structure 908 may magnetically interact withthe magnets 906 to produce Lorentz forces that cause the lens carrier902 to shift in one or multiple directions. The lens 904 may shifttogether with the lens carrier 902. In some embodiments, interactionbetween the coils of the additive coil structure 908 and the magnets 906may cause the lens 904 to move along the optical axis (and/or orthogonalto the image sensor 910) and/or to tilt relative to the optical axis(and/or relative to the image sensor 910).

In some embodiments, the VCM actuator module 900 may include a topspring 912 and/or a bottom spring 914. The top spring 912 and/or thebottom spring 914 may couple the additive coil structure 908 with one ormore other components (e.g., one or more static members). In someexamples, the top spring 912 and/or the bottom spring 914 may beadditively formed together with the additive coil structure 908. Inother examples, the top spring 912 and/or the bottom spring 914 may beseparately formed and coupled to the additive coil structure 908.

In some examples, the VCM actuator module 900 may include a dynamicplatform 916 configured to hold the image sensor 910. One or more setsof flexures 918 may mechanically connect the sensor shift platform 916to a static platform 920. The dynamic platform 916 may include coilholders 922 configured to hold coils 924 (e.g., optical imagestabilization coils) proximate the magnets 906 (or other actuatormagnets). The coils 924 may magnetically interact with the magnets 906to produce Lorentz forces that cause the dynamic platform 916 to shiftin one or more directions. The image sensor 910 may shift together withthe dynamic platform 916. The flexures 918 may provide compliance formovement of the dynamic platform 916. In some embodiments, interactionbetween the coils 924 and the magnets 906 may cause the image sensor 910to shift, relative to the lens 904, in directions orthogonal to theoptical axis.

In some embodiments, the flexures 918 may include electrical traces 926configured to route image signals from the image sensor 910 to thestatic platform 920. Furthermore, the static platform 920 may beconfigured to route the image signals to a flex (not shown).Additionally, the electrical traces 926 may be configured to routecurrent to the coils 924 to drive the coils 924.

Multifunction Device Examples

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a portable multifunction device1000, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, theportable multifunction device 1000 may include one or multiple features,components, and/or implement functionality of embodiments describedherein with reference to FIGS. 1-9, 11, and 12.

In some embodiments, the device 1000 is a portable communicationsdevice, such as a mobile telephone, that also contains other functions,such as PDA, camera, video capture and/or playback, and/or music playerfunctions. Example embodiments of portable multifunction devicesinclude, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® devicesfrom Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronic devices,such as laptops, cell phones, smartphones, pad or tablet computers withtouch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touchpads), may also be used. It should also be understood that, in someembodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but isa desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch screendisplay and/or a touch pad). In some embodiments, the device is a gamingcomputer with orientation sensors (e.g., orientation sensors in a gamingcontroller). In other embodiments, the device is not a portablecommunications device, but is a camera and/or video camera.

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should beunderstood, however, that the electronic device may include one or moreother physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, amouse and/or a joystick.

The device 1000 typically supports a variety of applications, such asone or more of the following: a drawing application, a presentationapplication, a word processing application, a website creationapplication, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, agaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencingapplication, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, aworkout support application, a photo management application, a digitalcamera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, a streaming videoapplication, and/or a digital video player application.

The various applications that may be executed on the device 1000 may useat least one common physical user-interface device, such as thetouch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitivesurface as well as corresponding information displayed on the device maybe adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or withina respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture(such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the device may support thevariety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive andtransparent to the user.

Device 1000 may include memory 1002 (which may include one or morecomputer readable storage mediums), memory controller 1022, one or moreprocessing units (CPU's) 1020, peripherals interface 1018, RF circuitry1008, audio circuitry 1010, speaker 1011, touch-sensitive display system1012, microphone 1013, input/output (I/O) subsystem 1006, other inputcontrol devices 1016, and external port 1024. Device 1000 may includeone or more optical sensors or cameras 1064 (e.g., one or moreembodiments of the cameras described herein). These components maycommunicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines 1003.

It should be appreciated that device 1000 is only one example of aportable multifunction device, and that device 1000 may have more orfewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or mayhave a different configuration or arrangement of the components. Thevarious components shown in FIG. 10 may be implemented in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software, including one ormore signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory 1002 may include high-speed random access memory and may alsoinclude non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memorydevices. Access to memory 1002 by other components of device 1000, suchas CPU 1020 and the peripherals interface 1018, may be controlled bymemory controller 1022.

Peripherals interface 1018 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU 1020 and memory 1002. The one or moreprocessors 1020 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 1002 to perform various functions fordevice 1000 and to process data.

In some embodiments, peripherals interface 1018, CPU 1020, and memorycontroller 1022 may be implemented on a single chip, such as chip 1004.In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 1008 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 1008 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 1008 may include well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a coder/decoder(codec) chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and soforth. RF circuitry 1008 may communicate with networks, such as theInternet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranetand/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, awireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network(MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wirelesscommunication may use any of a variety of communications standards,protocols and technologies, including but not limited to Global Systemfor Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE),high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packetaccess (HSUPA), wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), codedivision multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA),Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b,IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP),Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol(IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g.,extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP), Session InitiationProtocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions(SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or ShortMessage Service (SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol,including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filingdate of this document.

Audio circuitry 1010, speaker 1011, and microphone 1013 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 1000. Audio circuitry 1010 receivesaudio data from peripherals interface 1018, converts the audio data toan electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker1011. Speaker 1011 converts the electrical signal to audible soundwaves. Audio circuitry 1010 also receives electrical signals convertedby microphone 1013 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 1010 converts theelectrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data toperipherals interface 1018 for processing. Audio data may be retrievedfrom and/or transmitted to memory 1002 and/or RF circuitry 1008 byperipherals interface 1018. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 1010also includes a headset jack. The headset jack provides an interfacebetween audio circuitry 1010 and removable audio input/outputperipherals, such as output-only headphones or a headset with bothoutput (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., amicrophone).

I/O subsystem 1006 couples input/output peripherals on device 1000, suchas touch screen 1012 and other input control devices 1016, toperipherals interface 1018. I/O subsystem 1006 may include displaycontroller 1056 and one or more input controllers 1060 for other inputcontrol devices 1016. The one or more input controllers 1060receive/send electrical signals from/to other input control devices1016. The other input control devices 1016 may include physical buttons(e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches,joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternative embodiments,input controller(s) 1060 may be coupled to any (or none) of thefollowing: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer devicesuch as a mouse. The one or more buttons may include an up/down buttonfor volume control of speaker 1011 and/or microphone 1013. The one ormore buttons may include a push button.

Touch-sensitive display 1012 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. Display controller 1056receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 1012.Touch screen 1012 displays visual output to the user. The visual outputmay include graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof(collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all ofthe visual output may correspond to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 1012 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set ofsensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactilecontact. Touch screen 1012 and display controller 1056 (along with anyassociated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory 1002) detectcontact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen1012 and converts the detected contact into interaction withuser-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages orimages) that are displayed on touch screen 1012. In an exampleembodiment, a point of contact between touch screen 1012 and the usercorresponds to a finger of the user.

Touch screen 1012 may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD(light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emittingdiode) technology, although other display technologies may be used inother embodiments. Touch screen 1012 and display controller 1056 maydetect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of avariety of touch sensing technologies now known or later developed,including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, andsurface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensorarrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contactwith touch screen 1012. In an example embodiment, projected mutualcapacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in theiPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

Touch screen 1012 may have a video resolution in excess of 100 dpi. Insome embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution ofapproximately 160 dpi. The user may make contact with touch screen 1012using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, andso forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to workprimarily with finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be lessprecise than stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of afinger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translatesthe rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position orcommand for performing the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen 1012, device 1000may include a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivatingparticular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is atouch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, doesnot display visual output. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surfacethat is separate from touch screen 1012 or an extension of thetouch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.

Device 1000 also includes power system 1062 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 1062 may include a power management system, oneor more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), arecharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converteror inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode(LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

Device 1000 may also include one or more optical sensors or cameras1064. FIG. 10 shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensorcontroller 1058 in I/O subsystem 1006. Optical sensor 1064 may, forexample, include charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementarymetal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors or photosensors.Optical sensor 1064 receives light from the environment, projectedthrough one or more lenses, and converts the light to data representingan image. In conjunction with imaging module 1043 (also called a cameramodule), optical sensor 1064 may capture still images and/or videosequences. In some embodiments, at least one optical sensor may belocated on the back of device 1000, opposite touch screen display 1012on the front of the device. In some embodiments, the touch screendisplay may be used as a viewfinder for still and/or video imageacquisition. In some embodiments, at least one optical sensor mayinstead or also be located on the front of the device.

Device 1000 may also include one or more proximity sensors 1066. FIG. 10shows proximity sensor 1066 coupled to peripherals interface 1018.Alternatively, proximity sensor 1066 may be coupled to input controller1060 in I/O subsystem 1006. In some embodiments, the proximity sensorturns off and disables touch screen 1012 when the multifunction deviceis placed near the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phonecall).

Device 1000 may also include one or more orientation sensors 1068. Insome embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors include one ormore accelerometers (e.g., one or more linear accelerometers and/or oneor more rotational accelerometers). In some embodiments, the one or moreorientation sensors include one or more gyroscopes. In some embodiments,the one or more orientation sensors include one or more magnetometers.In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors include one ormore of global positioning system (GPS), Global Navigation SatelliteSystem (GLONASS), and/or other global navigation system receivers. TheGPS, GLONASS, and/or other global navigation system receivers may beused for obtaining information concerning the location and orientation(e.g., portrait or landscape) of device 1000. In some embodiments, theone or more orientation sensors include any combination oforientation/rotation sensors. FIG. 10 shows the one or more orientationsensors 1068 coupled to peripherals interface 1018. Alternatively, theone or more orientation sensors 1068 may be coupled to an inputcontroller 1060 in I/O subsystem 1006. In some embodiments, informationis displayed on the touch screen display in a portrait view or alandscape view based on an analysis of data received from the one ormore orientation sensors.

In some embodiments, device 1000 may also include one or more othersensors (not shown) including but not limited to ambient light sensorsand motion detectors. These sensors may be coupled to peripheralsinterface 1018 or, alternatively, may be coupled to an input controller1060 in I/O subsystem 1006. For example, in some embodiments, device1000 may include at least one forward-facing (away from the user) and atleast one backward-facing (towards the user) light sensors that may beused to collect ambient lighting metrics from the environment of thedevice 1000 for use in video and image capture, processing, and displayapplications.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 1002include operating system 1026, communication module 1028, contact/motionmodule (or set of instructions) 1030, graphics module 1032, text inputmodule 1034, Global Positioning System (GPS) module 1035, andapplications 1036. Furthermore, in some embodiments memory 1002 storesdevice/global internal state 1057. Device/global internal state 1057includes one or more of: active application state, indicating whichapplications, if any, are currently active; display state, indicatingwhat applications, views or other information occupy various regions oftouch screen display 1012; sensor state, including information obtainedfrom the device's various sensors and input control devices 1016; andlocation information concerning the device's location and/or attitude.

Operating system 1026 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS,or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes varioussoftware components and/or drivers for controlling and managing generalsystem tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, powermanagement, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardwareand software components.

Communication module 1028 facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports 1024 and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by RF circuitry 1008 and/orexternal port 1024. External port 1024 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus(USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devicesor indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.).In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin)connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices.

Contact/motion module 1030 may detect contact with touch screen 1012 (inconjunction with display controller 1056) and other touch sensitivedevices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motionmodule 1030 includes various software components for performing variousoperations related to detection of contact, such as determining ifcontact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determiningif there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-draggingevents), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting afinger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module 1030receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determiningmovement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series ofcontact data, may include determining speed (magnitude), velocity(magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitudeand/or direction) of the point of contact. These operations may beapplied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiplesimultaneous contacts (e.g., “multi-touch”/multiple finger contacts). Insome embodiments, contact/motion module 1030 and display controller 1056detect contact on a touchpad.

Contact/motion module 1030 may detect a gesture input by a user.Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contactpatterns. Thus, a gesture may be detected by detecting a particularcontact pattern. For example, detecting a finger tap gesture includesdetecting a finger-down event followed by detecting a finger-up (liftoff) event at the same position (or substantially the same position) asthe finger-down event (e.g., at the position of an icon). As anotherexample, detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surfaceincludes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting one or morefinger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by detecting afinger-up (lift off) event.

Graphics module 1032 includes various software components for renderingand displaying graphics on touch screen 1012 or other display, includingcomponents for changing the intensity of graphics that are displayed. Asused herein, the term “graphics” includes any object that can bedisplayed to a user, including without limitation text, web pages, icons(such as user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images,videos, animations and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 1032 stores data representinggraphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a corresponding code.Graphics module 1032 receives, from applications etc., one or more codesspecifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinatedata and other graphic property data, and then generates screen imagedata to output to display controller 1056.

Text input module 1034, which may be a component of graphics module1032, provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applicationsthat need text input.

GPS module 1035 determines the location of the device and provides thisinformation for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone module1038 for use in location-based dialing, to camera module 1043 aspicture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-basedservices such as map/navigation applications).

Applications 1036 may include one or more of, but are not limited to,the following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or supersetthereof:

-   -   telephone module 1038;    -   video conferencing module 1039;    -   camera module 1043 for still and/or video imaging;    -   image management module 1044;    -   browser module 1047;    -   search module 1051;    -   video and music player module 1052, which may be made up of a        video player module and a music player module; and/or    -   online video module 1055.    -   one or more other modules not shown, such as a gaming module.

Examples of other applications 1036 that may be stored in memory 1002include but are not limited to other word processing applications, otherimage editing applications, drawing applications, presentationapplications, communication/social media applications, map applications,JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voicerecognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1008, audio circuitry 1010, speaker1011, microphone 1013, touch screen 1012, display controller 1056,contact module 1030, graphics module 1032, and text input module 1034,telephone module 1038 may be used to enter a sequence of characterscorresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephonenumbers in an address book, modify a telephone number that has beenentered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation anddisconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As notedabove, the wireless communication may use any of a variety ofcommunications standards, protocols and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1008, audio circuitry 1010, speaker1011, microphone 1013, touch screen 1012, display controller 1056,optical sensor 1064, optical sensor controller 1058, contact/motionmodule 1030, graphics module 1032, text input module 1034, and telephonemodule 1038, videoconferencing module 1039 includes executableinstructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conferencebetween a user and one or more other participants in accordance withuser instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 1012, display controller 1056, opticalsensor(s) 1064, optical sensor controller 1058, contact/motion module1030, graphics module 1032, and image management module 1044, cameramodule 1043 includes executable instructions to capture still images orvideo (including a video stream) and store them into memory 1002, modifycharacteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image orvideo from memory 1002.

In conjunction with touch screen 1012, display controller 1056,contact/motion module 1030, graphics module 1032, text input module1034, and camera module 1043, image management module 1044 includesexecutable instructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwisemanipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show oralbum), and store still and/or video images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 1008, touch screen 1012, display systemcontroller 1056, contact/motion module 1030, graphics module 1032, andtext input module 1034, browser module 1047 includes executableinstructions to browse the Internet in accordance with userinstructions, including searching, linking to, receiving, and displayingweb pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments and other fileslinked to web pages.

In conjunction with touch screen 1012, display system controller 1056,contact/motion module 1030, graphics module 1032, and text input module1034, search module 1051 includes executable instructions to search fortext, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 1002 thatmatch one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specifiedsearch terms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 1012, display system controller 1056,contact/motion module 1030, graphics module 1032, audio circuitry 1010,speaker 1011, RF circuitry 1008, and browser module 1047, video andmusic player module 1052 includes executable instructions that allow theuser to download and play back recorded music and other sound filesstored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, andexecutable instructions to display, present or otherwise play backvideos (e.g., on touch screen 1012 or on an external, connected displayvia external port 1024). In some embodiments, device 1000 may includethe functionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of AppleInc.).

In conjunction with touch screen 1012, display system controller 1056,contact/motion module 1030, graphics module 1032, audio circuitry 1010,speaker 1011, RF circuitry 1008, text input module 1034, and browsermodule 1047, online video module 1055 includes instructions that allowthe user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streaming and/ordownload), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external,connected display via external port 1024), and otherwise manage onlinevideos in one or more video formats, such as the H.264/AVC format or theH.265/HEVC format.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwiserearranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 1002 maystore a subset of the modules and data structures identified above.Furthermore, memory 1002 may store additional modules and datastructures not described above.

In some embodiments, device 1000 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/ora touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device1000, the number of physical input control devices (such as pushbuttons, dials, and the like) on device 1000 may be reduced.

The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between userinterfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user,navigates device 1000 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that may be displayed on device 1000. In such embodiments, thetouchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some otherembodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or otherphysical input control device instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 11 depicts illustrates an example portable multifunction device1000 that may include one or more cameras, in accordance with someembodiments. In some embodiments, the portable multifunction device 1000may include one or multiple features, components, and/or functionalityof embodiments described herein with reference to FIGS. 1-10 and 12.

The device 1000 may have a touch screen 1012. The touch screen 1012 maydisplay one or more graphics within user interface (UI) 1100. In thisembodiment, as well as others described below, a user may select one ormore of the graphics by making a gesture on the graphics, for example,with one or more fingers 1102 (not drawn to scale in the figure) or oneor more styluses 1103 (not drawn to scale in the figure).

Device 1000 may also include one or more physical buttons, such as“home” or menu button 1004. As described previously, menu button 1104may be used to navigate to any application 1036 in a set of applicationsthat may be executed on device 1000. Alternatively, in some embodiments,the menu button 1104 is implemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed ontouch screen 1012.

In one embodiment, device 1000 includes touch screen 1012, menu button1104, push button 1106 for powering the device on/off and locking thedevice, volume adjustment button(s) 1108, Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card slot 1110, head set jack 1112, and docking/charging externalport 1024. Push button 1106 may be used to turn the power on/off on thedevice by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressedstate for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressingthe button and releasing the button before the predefined time intervalhas elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process.In an alternative embodiment, device 1000 also may accept verbal inputfor activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone1013.

It should be noted that, although many of the examples herein are givenwith reference to optical sensor(s)/camera(s) 1064 (on the front of adevice), one or more rear-facing cameras or optical sensors that arepointed opposite from the display may be used instead of, or in additionto, an optical sensor(s)/camera(s) 1064 on the front of a device.

Example Computer System

FIG. 12 illustrates an example computer system 1200 that may include oneor more cameras, in accordance with some embodiments. In someembodiments, the computer system 1200 may include one or multiplefeatures, components, and/or implement functionality of embodimentsdescribed herein with reference to FIGS. 1-11.

The computer system 1200 may be configured to execute any or all of theembodiments described above. In different embodiments, computer system1200 may be any of various types of devices, including, but not limitedto, a personal computer system, desktop computer, laptop, notebook,tablet, slate, pad, or netbook computer, mainframe computer system,handheld computer, workstation, network computer, a camera, a set topbox, a mobile device, a consumer device, video game console, handheldvideo game device, application server, storage device, a television, avideo recording device, a peripheral device such as a switch, modem,router, or in general any type of computing or electronic device.

Various embodiments of a camera motion control system as describedherein, including embodiments of magnetic position sensing, as describedherein may be executed in one or more computer systems 1200, which mayinteract with various other devices. Note that any component, action, orfunctionality described above with respect to FIGS. 1-11 may beimplemented on one or more computers configured as computer system 1200of FIG. 12, according to various embodiments. In the illustratedembodiment, computer system 1200 includes one or more processors 1210coupled to a system memory 1220 via an input/output (I/O) interface1230. Computer system 1200 further includes a network interface 1240coupled to I/O interface 1230, and one or more input/output devices1250, such as cursor control device 1260, keyboard 1270, and display(s)1280. In some cases, it is contemplated that embodiments may beimplemented using a single instance of computer system 1200, while inother embodiments multiple such systems, or multiple nodes making upcomputer system 1200, may be configured to host different portions orinstances of embodiments. For example, in one embodiment some elementsmay be implemented via one or more nodes of computer system 1200 thatare distinct from those nodes implementing other elements.

In various embodiments, computer system 1200 may be a uniprocessorsystem including one processor 1210, or a multiprocessor systemincluding several processors 1210 (e.g., two, four, eight, or anothersuitable number). Processors 1210 may be any suitable processor capableof executing instructions. For example, in various embodimentsprocessors 1210 may be general-purpose or embedded processorsimplementing any of a variety of instruction set architectures (ISAs),such as the x86, PowerPC, SPARC, or MIPS ISAs, or any other suitableISA. In multiprocessor systems, each of processors 1210 may commonly,but not necessarily, implement the same ISA.

System memory 1220 may be configured to store program instructions 1222accessible by processor 1210. In various embodiments, system memory 1220may be implemented using any suitable memory technology, such as staticrandom access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM),nonvolatile/Flash-type memory, or any other type of memory.Additionally, existing camera control data 1232 of memory 1220 mayinclude any of the information or data structures described above. Insome embodiments, program instructions and/or data may be received, sentor stored upon different types of computer-accessible media or onsimilar media separate from system memory 1220 or computer system 1200.While computer system 1200 is described as implementing thefunctionality of functional blocks of previous figures, any of thefunctionality described herein may be implemented via such a computersystem.

In one embodiment, I/O interface 1230 may be configured to coordinateI/O traffic between processor 1210, system memory 1220, and anyperipheral devices in the device, including network interface 1240 orother peripheral interfaces, such as input/output devices 1250. In someembodiments, I/O interface 1230 may perform any necessary protocol,timing or other data transformations to convert data signals from onecomponent (e.g., system memory 1220) into a format suitable for use byanother component (e.g., processor 1210). In some embodiments, I/Ointerface 1230 may include support for devices attached through varioustypes of peripheral buses, such as a variant of the Peripheral ComponentInterconnect (PCI) bus standard or the Universal Serial Bus (USB)standard, for example. In some embodiments, the function of I/Ointerface 1230 may be split into two or more separate components, suchas a north bridge and a south bridge, for example. Also, in someembodiments some or all of the functionality of I/O interface 1230, suchas an interface to system memory 1220, may be incorporated directly intoprocessor 1210.

Network interface 1240 may be configured to allow data to be exchangedbetween computer system 1200 and other devices attached to a network1285 (e.g., carrier or agent devices) or between nodes of computersystem 1200. Network 1285 may in various embodiments include one or morenetworks including but not limited to Local Area Networks (LANs) (e.g.,an Ethernet or corporate network), Wide Area Networks (WANs) (e.g., theInternet), wireless data networks, some other electronic data network,or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, network interface1240 may support communication via wired or wireless general datanetworks, such as any suitable type of Ethernet network, for example;via telecommunications/telephony networks such as analog voice networksor digital fiber communications networks; via storage area networks suchas Fibre Channel SANs, or via any other suitable type of network and/orprotocol.

Input/output devices 1250 may, in some embodiments, include one or moredisplay terminals, keyboards, keypads, touchpads, scanning devices,voice or optical recognition devices, or any other devices suitable forentering or accessing data by one or more computer systems 1200.Multiple input/output devices 1250 may be present in computer system1200 or may be distributed on various nodes of computer system 1200. Insome embodiments, similar input/output devices may be separate fromcomputer system 1200 and may interact with one or more nodes of computersystem 1200 through a wired or wireless connection, such as over networkinterface 1240.

As shown in FIG. 12, memory 1220 may include program instructions 1222,which may be processor-executable to implement any element or actiondescribed above. In one embodiment, the program instructions mayimplement the methods described above. In other embodiments, differentelements and data may be included. Note that data may include any dataor information described above.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that computer system 1200 ismerely illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope ofembodiments. In particular, the computer system and devices may includeany combination of hardware or software that can perform the indicatedfunctions, including computers, network devices, Internet appliances,PDAs, wireless phones, pagers, etc. Computer system 1200 may also beconnected to other devices that are not illustrated, or instead mayoperate as a stand-alone system. In addition, the functionality providedby the illustrated components may in some embodiments be combined infewer components or distributed in additional components. Similarly, insome embodiments, the functionality of some of the illustratedcomponents may not be provided and/or other additional functionality maybe available.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that, while various itemsare illustrated as being stored in memory or on storage while beingused, these items or portions of them may be transferred between memoryand other storage devices for purposes of memory management and dataintegrity. Alternatively, in other embodiments some or all of thesoftware components may execute in memory on another device andcommunicate with the illustrated computer system via inter-computercommunication. Some or all of the system components or data structuresmay also be stored (e.g., as instructions or structured data) on acomputer-accessible medium or a portable article to be read by anappropriate drive, various examples of which are described above. Insome embodiments, instructions stored on a computer-accessible mediumseparate from computer system 1200 may be transmitted to computer system1200 via transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as a network and/or a wireless link. Various embodiments mayfurther include receiving, sending or storing instructions and/or dataimplemented in accordance with the foregoing description upon acomputer-accessible medium. Generally speaking, a computer-accessiblemedium may include a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium ormemory medium such as magnetic or optical media, e.g., disk orDVD/CD-ROM, volatile or non-volatile media such as RAM (e.g. SDRAM, DDR,RDRAM, SRAM, etc.), ROM, etc. In some embodiments, a computer-accessiblemedium may include transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as network and/or a wireless link.

The methods described herein may be implemented in software, hardware,or a combination thereof, in different embodiments. In addition, theorder of the blocks of the methods may be changed, and various elementsmay be added, reordered, combined, omitted, modified, etc. Variousmodifications and changes may be made as would be obvious to a personskilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The variousembodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative and notlimiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvementsare possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided forcomponents described herein as a single instance. Boundaries betweenvarious components, operations and data stores are somewhat arbitrary,and particular operations are illustrated in the context of specificillustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality areenvisioned and may fall within the scope of claims that follow. Finally,structures and functionality presented as discrete components in theexample configurations may be implemented as a combined structure orcomponent. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements may fall within the scope of embodiments as defined in theclaims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera, comprising: a lens that defines anoptical axis; an image sensor; a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator,including: a lens carrier configured to hold the lens; a magnet; and acoil structure, including: a base portion that is attached to andsurrounds a perimeter of the lens carrier; and at least one portion thatincludes at least one coil located proximate the magnet; wherein the VCMactuator is configured to shift the lens, relative to the image sensor,based at least in part on magnetic interaction between the at least onecoil and the magnet; and a spring that suspends the coil structure froma static member of the camera and that flexibly supports the lenscarrier, wherein the spring comprises: a first portion that is coupledto the base portion; and a plurality of channels that extend from thefirst portion to the static member; wherein one or more of the pluralityof channels are configured to route current to the at least one coil todrive the at least one coil.
 2. The camera of claim 1, wherein theplurality of channels extends, from the first portion to the staticmember, in one or more directions along a plane orthogonal to theoptical axis.
 3. The camera of claim 1, wherein: the at least one coilcomprises a coil configured such that, when driven, the current flowsthrough the coil in directions along a first plane; and the plurality ofchannels extends, from the first portion to the static member, in one ormore directions along a second plane that intersects the first plane. 4.The camera of claim 1, wherein the spring is formed of a metal substratefrom which the coil structure is additively formed.
 5. The camera ofclaim 1, wherein: the coil structure further includes one or moreelectrodes on the base portion; and the spring is coupled to the baseportion via the one or more electrodes.
 6. The camera of claim 1,wherein the spring includes: one or more electrical traces configured toroute current to the at least one coil to drive the coil; and one ormore insulator layers that electrically isolate the one or moreelectrical traces.
 7. The camera of claim 1, wherein the at least oneportion of the coil structure comprises a fold between the base portionand the at least one coil.
 8. The camera of claim 1, wherein to shiftthe lens, the VCM actuator is configured to at least one of: move thelens along the optical axis; or tilt the lens relative to the opticalaxis.
 9. A device, comprising: one or more processors; memory storingprogram instructions executable by the one or more processors to controloperations of a camera; and the camera, comprising: a lens that definesan optical axis; an image sensor; a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator,including: a lens carrier configured to hold the lens; a magnet; and acoil structure, including: a base portion that is attached to andsurrounds a perimeter of the lens carrier; and at least one portion thatincludes at least one coil located proximate the magnet; wherein the VCMactuator is configured to shift the lens, relative to the image sensor,based at least in part on magnetic interaction between the at least onecoil and the magnet; and a spring that suspends the coil structure froma static member of the camera and that flexibly supports the lenscarrier, wherein the spring comprises: a first portion that is coupledto the base portion; and a plurality of channels that extend from thefirst portion to the static member; wherein one or more of the pluralityof channels are configured to route current to the at least one coil todrive the at least one coil.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein theplurality of channels extends, from the first portion to the staticmember, in one or more directions along a plane orthogonal to theoptical axis.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein: the at least one coilcomprises a coil configured such that, when driven, the current flowsthrough the coil in directions along a first plane; and the plurality ofchannels extends, from the first portion to the static member, in one ormore directions along a second plane that intersects the first plane.12. The device of claim 9, wherein the spring is formed of a metalsubstrate from which the coil structure is additively formed.
 13. Thedevice of claim 9, wherein: the coil structure further includes one ormore electrodes on the base portion; and the spring is coupled to thebase portion via the one or more electrodes.
 14. The device of claim 9,wherein the spring includes: one or more electrical traces configured toroute current to the at least one coil to drive the coil; and one ormore insulator layers that electrically isolate the one or moreelectrical traces.
 15. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least oneportion of the coil structure comprises a fold between the base portionand the at least one coil.
 16. The device of claim 9, wherein the springincludes: one or more electrical traces configured to route current tothe at least one coil to drive the coil; and one or more insulatorlayers that electrically isolate the one or more electrical traces. 17.A system, comprising: a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, including: alens carrier to hold a lens of a camera; a magnet; and a coil structure,including: a base portion that is attached to and surrounds a perimeterof the lens carrier; and at least one portion that includes at least onecoil located proximate the magnet; wherein the VCM actuator isconfigured to shift the lens, relative to an image sensor of the camera,based at least in part on magnetic interaction between the at least onecoil and the magnet; and a spring to suspend the coil structure from astatic member of the camera and to flexibly support the lens carrier,wherein the spring comprises: a first portion that is coupled to thebase portion; and a plurality of channels configured to extend from thefirst portion to the static member; wherein one or more of the pluralityof channels are configured to route current to the at least one coil todrive the at least one coil.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein theplurality of channels is configured to extend, from the first portion tothe static member, in one or more directions along a plane orthogonal toan optical axis defined by the lens.
 19. The system of claim 17,wherein: the at least one coil comprises a coil configured such that,when driven, the current flows through the coil in directions along afirst plane; and the plurality of channels is configured to extend, fromthe first portion to the static member, in one or more directions alonga second plane that intersects the first plane.
 20. The system of claim17, wherein: the coil structure further includes one or more electrodeson the base portion; and the spring is coupled to the base portion viathe one or more electrodes.